Betfred Derby Day. One of many nice days in British and certainly world racing is right here. With the worst of the rain seemingly behind us, we’re set to race on floor on the better aspect of excellent and all is in place for an exquisite day of racing.
The primary occasion of the day is in fact the Betfred Derby (4pm) itself. On Thursday, I revealed a runner-by-runner information to it that offers my detailed ideas on all of the runners – yow will discover that right here. There are just a few others races on the cardboard which are of curiosity and people are those I’ll cowl on this house.
The Coolmore Coronation Cup (2.40pm) has been moved onto Derby day and had its prize cash considerably boosted this 12 months and all concerned have been rewarded with a critically robust renewal of the race.
It’s removed from a two-horse race, however a lot of the main target shall be on the rematch from final 12 months’s race the place the Aidan O’Brien-trained JAN BRUEGHEL bought the higher of the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Calandagan in an exciting contest.
Since then, Calandagan has gone on to ascertain himself because the world’s main middle-distance performer by embarking on a exceptional five-race successful streak on the highest degree that includes a genuinely epic victory within the Japan Cup.
In distinction, Jan Brueghel has been restricted to simply two outings since then, a disappointing effort in a tactically messy renewal of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and a formidable successful return from an absence at Chester final month.
It’s totally comprehensible why Calandagan is the clear favorite for the rematch, however Jan Brueghel did appear to benefit from the distinctive take a look at of this course and distance fairly a bit higher than Calandagan final 12 months and that would show to be an vital issue this 12 months.
Jan Brueghel additionally has two robust steady mates within the area and Aidan O’Brien would possibly effectively have a plan up his sleeve to maximise Jan Brueghel’s likelihood. On the costs, he makes extra attraction to me.
The HKJC World Pool Northern Dancer Handicap (5.20pm) is only a ridiculously aggressive handicap, however I am eager to have a swing at it with the Ralph Beckett-trained LORD MELBOURNE. The six-year-old would not have notably engaging current kind, however it’s his document over this distinctive course that catches the attention.
He has gained two of his three begins at this observe and his average current kind has seen him drop to a mark that’s simply 3lb greater than he bolted up off at this observe final September. It would not be in any respect stunning if his connections have had this race on Derby Day in thoughts for him for fairly a while and with a large draw not being an excessive amount of of a fear, he appears to have a really actual likelihood at an enormous race.
Kevin’s ideas
2.40 Epsom Downs – Coolmore Coronation Cup
JAN BRUEGHEL (3-1)
4.00 Epsom Downs – Betfred derby
1. BENVENUTO CELLINI
2. Christmas Day
3. James J Braddock
5.20 Epsom Downs – HKJC World Pool Northern Dancer Handicap
LORD MELBOURNE (20-1)
